Whispers in the Shadows

Chapter 1: help me...?

"Hm..." Fukuzawa looked around him looking with displeasure. Carefully, he walked the dark halls, checking each room he came across. As he was about to open a door he heard crying. 'A child..?' He thought. So, he went to the noises of the child quietly so as not to alarm the person. He slowly opened the door to see a small child in a white dress. He looked at the child carefully and saw that they were cuffed to their bed. He approached carefully and with a squeak from his shoes the child looked up, terrified.

"Why are you here kid?" Fukuzawa asked the small child. The kid looked at him, hesitant. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The kid let out a small cough, "I'm here because I hear things..." Fukuzawa looked at the kid in confusion. "Something's wrong with me, so, the people gave me away to the doctors to fix me..." Fukuzawa furrowed his eyebrows. Slowly, he crouched down near the small girl.
"What do you mean by 'you hear things?" He questioned.
"The shadows talk... I can hear them." The kid spoke with a soft voice. "Your name is Fukuzawa Yukichi... you are a master of martial arts and a swordsman."
Fukuzawa looked at her in shock. "That's correct. Did you hear that from my 'shadow'?" The kid nodded. "What else can you do?" He asked cautiously, in case the kid reacted violently to the question.

The kid looked at him, she stopped crying a few minutes ago and just listened to the man. "I dunno..." she trailed off. "Uhm... the shadows listen to me I guess.. but they don't listen when I ask them to be quiet."
"Hm" Fukuzawa looked at the kid. 'Shadow manipulation... an ability. This kid is gifted but since not many know about abilities she's been cast away by the people, thinking she was crazy.' He thought. "What's your name? Do you remember?"
"Sakurai Yūka..." she answered. "You're gonna take me with you, aren't you?"
Fukuzawa looked at Yūka with a blank stare. "Yes. You said the shadows aren't quiet right?" He spoke, Yūka nodded in agreement. "I'll bring you to a doctor friend of mine... he might be able to help you."

"No doctor! Please don't take me to the doctor! I'm not crazy! I promise!" Yūka begged Fukuzawa, completely terrified of the thought. Fukuzawa looked at her in surprise.
"Listen, kid, I know you aren't crazy. But you can trust me on this, this doctor could help you with the shadows." Fukuzawa tries to reason. "What does my shadow tell you?"
"To trust you..." Yūka said softly, inhaling heavily as she continued. "Fine... but you have to be there the whole time!"
"Deal." Fukuzawa said while putting his arm out for her to hold. She took his hand carefully.

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Arriving in the city, Yūka looked around in wonder. She hadn't been to the city before so this was very strange for her. As she walked with Fukuzawa, she looked at the many city lights and stalls filled with bustling people. 'Woahh... so this is the city!' She thought. Fukuzawa glanced at her, checking if she was okay. Seeing that she was happy and excited, he sighed in relief.

Walking up to a brown brick building, they entered and walked to the elevator. "...what" Yūka looked at the silver doors of an elevator.
Fukuzawa looked at her in surprise. "Do you... do you not know what an elevator is?" He asked.
"uhh... listen Fukuzawa-san, the special hospital didn't have elevators... besides, they never really gave me a proper education..." Yūka blushed and looked away.
Fukuzawa looked at her astonished. With a sigh, he explained what an elevator was. Yūka looked fascinated and quickly walked into the machine when the doors opened.
"What do we do now?? Do we say a magic word?" She asked smiling excitedly.
"No, we press these buttons." Fukuzawa clicked the basement button and the elevator did what an elevator would do. Yūka looked down in disappointment and Fukuzawa saw this. So, as they approached the basement floor Fukuzawa spoke up. "If you say 'open sesame', the doors will open."
"REALLY? Okay!" Yūka excitedly spoke. "Open sesame!" And the doors open in time. Yūka squeals in happiness. Fukuzawa gave a small smile. He walked out holding her hand.

They reach a door and Fukuzawa knocks on the door two times. After hearing a faint come in, Fukuzawa walked in with the small girl.
"Hello Mori, I apologize for abruptly coming here." He greeted his old friend. Mori simply smiled, "It's not a problem." He assured Fukuzawa and saw Yūka. "And who might this be?"
Yūka hid behind Fukuzawa, "This is Sakurai Yūka, I saved her from my recent assignment. I was wondering if you could do a check-up." Fukuzawa asked. Mori smiled in response. "Why of course, Come here miss Yūka." Yūka looked at him for a second before following his request. Mori carried her to sit on the patient's table.
"Is there any particular thing you're looking for Fukuzawa?" Mori asked while doing basic tests on Yūka. Fukuzawa filled him with the information he knew about Yūka. "I see... shadow manipulation, what a rare ability you have Yūka-chan!" He smiled happily.
"An ability?" Yūka questions. Mori nodded, "Yes, an ability. I believe it's called 'Whispers in the Shadows'" Yūka looked at him with stars in her eyes.

"AH! That's so cool! I have an ability!" She yelled happily. "Fukuzawa-san did you hear??" Fukuzawa just smiled at the small girl. Mori smiled, "Yūka-chan, you said to Fukuzawa that the shadows are noisy?"
"Yeah... they are so loud sometimes... I just want it to stop." Yūka spoke as she looked like she was about to cry.
"Hm, don't cry now..." Mori said as he stood up and went to his shelves. He opened the cabinets and started looking for something. "Ah, here we are... this medication can help you. The shadows will stay quiet." He said while approaching her. Fukuzawa raised an eyebrow.
"And what exactly is this medicine?" Fukuzawa questioned. Mori stopped and leaned towards his friend, whispering. "This medication can suppress a part of her ability. A new medication I made."

Fukuzawa looked at him, unsure. "Suppressing her ability? Is that a wise option?" He asked concerned for Yūka. Mori hummed, "My friend, I promise you this will not harm her. This will just help her control her ability." With a heavy sigh, Fukuzawa gave Mori the go.
"Here we go Yūka-chan. Do you know how to drink pills?" Mori asked the little girl. Yūka nodded in reply. She took the small tablet and water and drank it.

Yūka waited for a few seconds until... "What...? I can't hear shadows anymore?" She looked surprised and looked at the adults immediately. Mori smiled in satisfaction, his medicine worked.
"Yup! You see Yūka-chan, you can still hear the shadows but now you have to concentrate and look at the shadow properly to hear them. Try it." He advised.
Yūka looked at Mori, then at his shadow. As she concentrated, she could hear his shadow only. She started to tear up. "I can only hear him... haha... thank you so much!" She looked at Mori gratefully. Mori smiled back and then faced Fukuzawa, giving him a signal to speak privately. "We'll be right back Yūka-chan" Mori said. She nodded in understanding.

"What happens now?" Mori asked Fukuzawa. "You know the government will just use her abilities right?"
"Yeah, I know." Fukuzawa sighed rubbing his forehead. Mori looked at him for a few minutes until he got an idea. "Why not let her stay with me?" He smiled. Fukuzawa looked at him. "Absolutely not." Fukuzawa sternly replied. Mori looked at him slightly glaring at him.  "And why not?" Mori asks and Fukuzawa replies.
"Do you honestly think, you can take care of her? I don't believe it one bit." Mori rolled his eyes at Fukuzawa, "What do you suggest then, hm?" Mori asked.

Both adults stood there quietly, thinking of what to do. Fukuzawa finally thought of a solution. And he faced Yūka, "Yūka-chan, do you want to stay with me and Mori?" Mori looked at him confused. "We'll buy a small apartment where you'll stay and Mori and I will take turns taking care of you." Mori finally understood his plan.
"Do I really get to stay with you guys?" Yūka looked at them with a smile. Both adults nodded. "Okay! I'll stay with you guys."
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow we'll look for a small apartment for you." Fukuzawa smiled, as well as Mori.